Dreams of the Past

The soft glow of the early morning sun filtered through the window, casting warm light on Morvane's sleeping face. Yet, despite the tranquility of the moment, his dreams were far from peaceful.

In his dream, he found himself standing in a dimly lit forest, surrounded by towering trees whose branches twisted into impossible shapes. The air was thick with mist, and the ground beneath his feet was soft, like moss.

He walked forward, drawn to an ethereal figure ahead. The woman's figure was blurred at first, but as he drew closer, her face became clearer. It was Hiraya—though her features were more defined now, her presence still heavy with sorrow.

"Hiraya?" Morvane called out, his voice weak in the dreamscape.

She turned to face him, her eyes filled with a sadness that seemed to pierce his very soul. "You're here…" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the soft breeze.

"Why am I here? What do you want from me?" Morvane asked, desperate for answers.

Hiraya's lips trembled, and she stepped closer, her form flickering in and out like a fading memory. "The truth," she said, her voice growing distant. "You have to find the truth, Morvane. The necklace is the key…"

Before he could respond, her figure vanished, leaving him standing alone in the mist.

Morvane jolted awake, his heart pounding in his chest. The image of Hiraya lingered in his mind, her words echoing in the quiet of the room. He reached for the necklace, which lay beside him on the bed, its faint glow pulsing with a strange energy.

As his fingers brushed against it, a sharp, unfamiliar pain shot through his chest, and he recoiled. The necklace seemed to hum with a dark power, its influence growing stronger with each passing day.

Morvane met up with Luna and Esmael later that morning. They had grown accustomed to their routine, but there was an unspoken tension between them. Both had noticed the change in Morvane, the way the necklace seemed to drain him of his strength.

Luna watched him closely as he approached, concern evident in her eyes. "Morvane, are you alright? You look pale."

Morvane nodded, though he could feel the weariness creeping into his bones. "I'm fine. Just a little tired." He offered a faint smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Esmael, ever the skeptic, didn't look convinced. "Tired? You've been like this ever since you started wearing that necklace. It's draining you, Morvane."

Morvane's hand instinctively went to the pendant. The weight of it was unbearable now, like a constant reminder of the questions he still didn't have answers to. "I know. I… I don't understand why. It's like it's calling to me."

Luna frowned. "Maybe it's not the necklace you should be listening to. Something about it feels… I don't know."

Esmael's eyes narrowed. "I agree. That thing's power is unlike anything I've ever felt. It's something..."

"I know," Morvane admitted, his voice tight with frustration. "But I can't stop. I keep seeing her… Hiraya. In my dreams. She's trying to tell me something."

Luna and Esmael exchanged a worried glance.

"The shrine," Esmael said softly. "You've been drawn to it ever since you found that necklace. Maybe there's something more to it than we realized."

Morvane's gaze hardened, a new determination burning within him. "I have to know. Whatever happened to Hiraya… whatever is connected to this necklace, I have to find out."

Luna stepped forward, her expression serious. "We'll help you, Morvane. But you have to promise us that you'll be careful. This path you're walking—it's dangerous."

Morvane nodded, but deep inside, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was no turning back now. The mystery of the necklace, of Hiraya, and of the strange dreams, was pulling him forward, and he knew he couldn't stop until he had the answers.

That evening, the trio set out for the shrine again. Morvane could feel the weight of the necklace against his chest, its energy almost suffocating. With each step, the visions of Hiraya's face flickered in his mind.

The shrine stood silent as ever when they arrived, but this time, it felt different. The air was heavier, charged with an unseen presence. Morvane's heart raced as he approached the stone altar, the necklace pulsing faintly.

"I don't like this," Esmael muttered, his hand hovering near his sword.

Luna stepped closer to Morvane, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "We should be cautious. There's something about this place…"

Before she could finish, the necklace flared to life, its glow brightening until it illuminated the entire shrine. Morvane gasped as a rush of energy surged through him, pulling him to his knees.

In that moment, the world around him seemed to blur, and he saw a fleeting vision—a glimpse of Hiraya standing in the distance, her face filled with anguish. She reached out to him, her lips moving, but no sound reached his ears.

"Morvane!" Luna's voice pierced through the haze, pulling him back to reality.

Morvane's breathing was ragged as he struggled to rise. His strength was drained, and the necklace now felt like a lead weight around his neck.

"We need to go," Esmael said, his voice urgent.

Luna wrapped an arm around Morvane's waist, helping him to his feet. "We're getting you out of here."

As they hurried back to the village, Morvane couldn't shake the image of Hiraya from his mind. Her face, her pain, and the words she had spoken to him in the dream—all of it was connected to the necklace, and the answers were just out of reach.

But for now, all he could do was survive the pull of its power. And hope that, somehow, he would make it through the darkness that loomed ahead.

As Morvane and his companions made their way back to the village, a fleeting memory flashed through his mind. He recalled Medas's words from the night before: "We'll see each other tomorrow."

But the sun had long since dipped below the horizon, and now, hours later, the world outside was shrouded in darkness. Morvane sighed to himself. "Tomorrow," he muttered under his breath, as though the word could somehow ease the knot of uncertainty forming in his chest. He felt the weight of the necklace once again, a constant reminder of the unresolved mysteries that surrounded him.

The night passed quietly, though Morvane's dreams were restless, filled with more fleeting glimpses of Hiraya and strange, cryptic messages. When he finally woke, the first rays of morning light were beginning to stretch across the sky, and the first sounds of the day began to stir.

Without delay, he got up, dressed, and made his way to Luna and Esmael.

"Good morning," Morvane greeted them, his voice a little more fatigued than usual.

Luna looked up from where she had been adjusting her pack. "Morning, Morvane. Ready for the trip?"

Esmael, ever the pragmatist, raised an eyebrow. "Is everything alright? You don't look like you slept much."

Morvane simply nodded. "I'm fine. Let's go." His tone was quiet, but there was a fire behind his eyes—he had a purpose, and today, he would follow it.

The trio set off towards the kingdom. The path through the forest was peaceful, the birds singing overhead and the faint scent of pine lingering in the air. But Morvane couldn't shake the feeling that something was waiting for him.

As they approached the gates of the kingdom, the atmosphere shifted. There was a hum in the air, as if the very city itself was alive with secrets. Morvane quickened his pace, but when they arrived at the palace gates, they were met with disappointment.

"Still not here," Morvane muttered, looking around for any sign of Medas.

"Maybe he's busy," Luna suggested, though her tone was uncertain.

Esmael's eyes narrowed. "I don't like this. There's something off about all of this."

Morvane nodded, but before he could say more, he turned to the palace guards who stood at the entrance. "We were hoping to visit the royal library. Do you think we can go in and take a look?"

The guard's face remained impassive, but his voice was firm. "The library is off-limits to visitors. You'll need to make an appointment, if you even have permission."

Luna stepped forward, her eyes narrowing with frustration. "We're just trying to gather information. You don't understand—this is important."

The guard stood unmoving. "I'm afraid I can't allow you to enter. Orders are orders."

Morvane's hand curled into a fist, but he took a deep breath and forced himself to remain calm. "We understand," he said quietly, stepping back.

With no more recourse at the gates, the trio wandered through the city. The bustling streets were filled with merchants peddling their wares, children laughing and playing, and the distant hum of music from a nearby tavern. But despite the lively atmosphere, Morvane's mind was elsewhere—focused on the strange events of the past few days, and the secrets he was starting to uncover.

As they walked, Luna spoke up. "Do you think we'll find any answers in the city? It feels like we're running in circles."

"I don't know," Morvane replied, his eyes scanning the streets. "But I can't stop. Something's not right, and I need to know what happened to Hiraya. Why she… why she was left behind without a mark. And what the necklace really means."

Esmael glanced at Morvane, his expression one of concern. "Be careful, Morvane. Whatever's going on here, it's bigger than we thought."

Morvane didn't answer at first, his gaze distant as he passed the crowded market stalls. His heart still ached with the memory of Hiraya's face in his dreams, her whispering words echoing in his mind.

"There is something else," he murmured, almost to himself. "Something I'm missing…"

Luna reached out to touch his arm. "We'll figure it out, Morvane. Together."

They walked on, the weight of the necklace hanging heavily around Morvane's neck. No answers were in sight, but he knew one thing for sure: he wasn't giving up. Not yet.